Enlarge imageBy Jeremy Cross
MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson stuck the boot into Manchester City ahead of their derby clash at Old Trafford on Sunday by insisting Liverpool will always be United's biggest rivals.
Expectations are high at big-spending City and their unbeaten start to the Premier League season -- they have won their first four matches -- has convinced some that Mark Hughes's side can challenge the domination of the big four of United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
"Liverpool, to me, will always be the derby game. It's because of the history. When I came down here they were the kingpins of England they'd won four European Cups at the time, quite a few league titles. It's hard to go against history," Ferguson told reporters on Friday.
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Ferguson said he expected a "feisty" clash on Sunday.
"I've been asked the question of whether this is the biggest derby game of all time? It's difficult to say. If you go back to the 60s City won the League and we won the European Cup so it must have been an incredible time for Manchester," Ferguson told reporters on Friday.
"But in recent years they (City) have not achieved that. Now they have bought the players and there is expectation. It's far better than we've had for a long time. It will be a real feisty game, there's no doubt about that and I look forward to it.
"There's no doubt that the spending of City has created all this (hype). They've had a good start and their performance against Arsenal is one you have to take note of."
City's Argentine striker Carlos Tevez could feature against the side he left in the close season if he shakes off a knee problem but Ferguson could be without defender Rio Ferdinand due to a groin problem.
"It doesn't bother me one bit," Ferguson said of Tevez's possible return.
"I think their best player is not playing. Adebayor has been their star player, he's scored in every game and he will be a loss really."
Adebayor starts a three-match ban imposed for violent conduct. The Togo international had accepted the charge for a malicious stamp on Arsenal's Dutch striker Robin van Persie during City's 4-2 home win last Saturday.
(Editing by Justin Palmer)
